Ximprovement i in tuck-creasers for sewing-machines



'A. JOHNSTON.

Tuck-Creasers for Sewing-Mabhines.

AM PHOIO-UTHUGRAPHIL ca NX (GaBoRNE's macssa) n Y STATES] PATENT D FIc ALLEN JOHNSTON, or OTTUMWA, IOWA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,919, dated February 18, 1873.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known. that I, ALLEN J oHNs'roN, of Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuck Ureasing and Marking Attachments for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object the production of a cheap and effective tuck creaser or marker-one which can be manufactured economically, is durable, and will perform its work well.

In the accompan'yin g drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of the attachment. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base-plate detached from the other parts of the attachment.

The'base-plate A is made of sheet metal, and is designed to support the various parts of the attachment. It is provided with a slot, a, to receive the set-screw, by which it is held to the sewing-machine cloth-plate, and a screwpin, 1), to enter slots in the superimposed guide-plate B, and a gage-plate, O, which carries at its outer end the point or edge by which, in conjunction with the notched end 1 of the vibratory frame D, the goods are creased or marked. The base -plate on one side is formed with a vertical portion, 0, provided with ears or lugs D,in which are formed cylindrical apertures for passage of the rod e of the frame D. The front ear is provided with a tubular bearing-piece or thimble, f, arranged to revolve freely within the aperture in the ear, and carrying a lever or arm, E, provided at its outer end with a loop, or some equivalent device, to connect with a screw or pin on the needle-bar of the sewing-machine, and to impart a positive movement in both directions to the frame D. The frame D is composed in part of the rod 0, supported .in the bearings d, in which it can both revolve and slide longitudinally, and having its front portion formed substantially as described, and provided with the notched end 1'. It is connected at its rear end with the gage-plate G by passing loosely through a cylindrical aperture in a standard, g, forming part of said plate, a thimble, g, or its equivalent, being fixed to the rod on each side of standard g, so that the two parts 0 and D must slide together. Thisplate rests upon the base A, and is-formed substantially as in dicated by the dotted and full lines in Fig. 1. In its center it is cut away to afford room for the set-screw which holds the attachment to the cloth-plate of the sewing-machine. It has also a slot, h, formed in the direction of its length, through which passes the pin or screw b, andon the side nearest frame D it has the form of a long arm extending out a considerble distance in front of the base-plate, and provided with a curved or bent end, upon which the point or edge 1) is so located as to be directly under the notch r. The other portion of the frame D consists of the rod 0, which may, as shown, form part of rod 6. The part c is not supported in bearings, but is connected at each end with rod 0, and passes loosely through the lever or arm E at a point, i, between the bearing f and the front end of the lever.

The object of this construction of the frame is twofold-to stiffen the frame and to enable the lever to rock or vibrate the frame, which it could not do were it not connected, as described, with the frame. At the same time the frame is free to slide back and forth, being held in any desired position by tightening the nut b on screw 1).

Upon the long arm of plate 0 is a flexible metallic strip, j, constituting a gage or scale, and secured at its rear end to the plate 0. The goods to be operated on pass under this gage blade or strip and between the notch and point or edge. Above and resting on the gageplate 0 is the guide B, formed also of sheet metal, and provided with a longitudinal slot, is, which is designed to receive the screw-pin. b. The front of this guide-plate extends out in advance of the base-plate, and is provided with a flange or ledge at its outer end or edge, against and along which the work is designed to move. The guide-plate can be adjusted out or in, at pleasure, to regulate the width of tuck. That portion of the guide which lies nearest the frame D is inserted between the flexible gage and the long arm of plate 0 in the manner shown, and the gage thus serves to enable an accurate adjustment to be made of both plates, whereby the width of tuck and the spaces between the tucks can be readily determined.

The operation of the attachment and. the manner of applying it to the sewing-machine will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and it will also be understood that the proportions of the parts can be varied to adapt the attachment for use with the various sewing-machines in the market.

The attachment shown in the drawing is to be used with a Singer machine so called.

It will be observed that the whole attachment is constructed with great simplicity, and can be made economically; at the same time it is very durable; and there is little liability of its getting out of order.

The arrangement of the notch-carryin g frame is such that the frame is stiff and strong. It is capable of being moved readily back and forth for purposes of adjustment, and the lever or arm by which it is rocked or vibrated operates to the best advantage.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. In combination with the base-plate and vibratory lever or arm E, the rocking or vibratory notchcarrying frame, constructed as herein described, and arranged to pass loosely through said lever at the axis of vibration of the latter, and also at a point between said axis and the free end of the lever, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. Incombination with said base-plate, vibratory lever or arm, and rocking or vibrating notch-carrying frame, combined as above described, the gage-plate O mounted upon saidbase-plate and connected with said frame, so

that it shall follow the sliding movement, but not the rocking or vibratory motion of the same, as set forth, and provided with an arm carrying the creasing edge or point p and a flexible strip, j, constituting the gage or scale, said parts being constructed and arranged together substantially as shown and set forth.

3. In combination with the parts specified in the clause last preceding, the guide-plate, constructed and arranged to operate in connection with said parts, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I havehereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

A. G. HARROW, B. R. HAMILTON. 

